PANJIM: The conduct of Goa government came under the scanner of Election Commission of India (ECI) when 114 police officers were transferred in what the Trinamool Congress (TMC) claimed was in violation of the election code.
The model code of conduct was enforced on January 8 after which the transfers were issued. However, in a report to the ECI, Goa Police denied the allegation.
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“There’s no violation of election order. The transfers order was issued on January 7 and circulated on the wireless. The officers had also accepted the posting through a message on the wireless. It’s going to be a month of the election code now,” Director General of Police I D Shukla said, when contacted by Herald over the notice issued by the ECI.
TMC had lodged a complaint with the ECI against the transfer and Saket Gokhale, the national spokesperson of TMC, accused the Goa government of transferring 114 police officers on January 8 without obtaining the sanction of the ECI.
“Once elections are notified and the MCC comes into force, the power of the State government to transfer or promote civil servants and police officers come under the purview of the Election Commission of India. But the Goa government, in clear violation of this, notified the transfer of the police officers, including 57 PSIs, 39 Police Inspectors (PIs), and 18 deputy SPs after the Model Code of Conduct came into force,” he had said.
TMC had demanded action within 48 hours following which the ECI had sought for a compliance report from the Home Secretary. The DGP, while reiterating no violation of the code, stated that everything pertaining to the election is “very well” in control.
“All other activities such as postings of the recently promoted 25 DySPs and 18 PIs could not take place owing to the ongoing code. Goa Police is following all the guidelines laid down by the ECI in the wake of the upcoming elections,” the DGP said.
